Udenfor Rigets Grænser

PhD, Cand. Psych. Simon Egenfeldt-NielsenAssistant Professor IT-University Copenhagen

CEO Serious Games Interactive

2. March 2010

UM – ’Udenfor Rigets Grænser’ Kick-off

sen@seriousgames.dk+45 40 10 79 69

Workshops

Workshop 1: Today (kick-off)

Workshop 2: Basic of strategy game

Workshop 3: Theme Afghanistan

Workshop 4: Theme Middle East

My background

• MA Psychology• PhD Games & learning• Jumping between industry & research

Research projects• Commercial video games for learning• Educational potential of video games: GC: Palestine• Research project: Serious Games on a Global Market place• PlayMancer – Serious Games for Rehabilitation

Developing Computer games• Global Conflicts-Series• Playing History-Series• +20 games for clients

Our background

Who are we...• Using games for more than entertainment• 18 employees located in Copenhagen• Worked for Danida, Amnesty, Lego, Nykredit; Kaplan & UNICEF • Won several awards for our productions

References

Our background

HR Learning & information Marketing

• Recruiting

• Developing

• Training

•Retaining

• Learning ressources

• Displays & installations

• Information services

• Up-selling

•Cross-selling

• Virtual worlds

• Branding

Serious Games Interactive Education

• Global Conflicts

• Playing History

Our organization

CEO($)

Producer (Time)

Game director (Quality)

Programming (All programming)

Graphics/animation(All graphics)

Content (Story, script, dialogue)

Board

Commercial director (Sales . & Marketing)

Our team

CEOCommercial directorKey Account managerProducerGame Director

WriterGame designerLead ProgrammerProgrammerWeb & database programerLead 3D animator3D artist environment & props3D character artistInternal testers

Why consider games?

Games are becoming mainstream – avg. gamer is 35 years old in US and UK.

Today games have become an universal language for playing, learning & communicating.

Today games are out-growing other popular media in importance.

Games are already forecasting the future of learning…

Agenda

• Overview Serious Games • Game-based learning• What is good game-based learning• Real examples• Developing serious games• Strategy games

Problems…

Most of what goes under the name "edutainment" reminds me of George Bernard Shaw's response to a famous beauty who speculated on the marvelous child they could have together: "With your brains and my looks ..." He retorted, "But what if the child had my looks and your brains?"

(Papert, 1998: 88)

History of games & learning

1960s: Big interest for role-playing games, board games & simulations.1970s: Early experiments with learning & games1980s: Edutainment industry comes and go1990s: Well-established big brands but little innovation.2000s: Serious Games movement starts the new century.

Read… Listen…

View…

New ways to engage…

Active choicesInteractive storiesHigh replayabilityMulti-user

Passive receptionLinear storiesLow repeatability Single-player

Experiencing!!!

The interactive experience…

Computer gamers are everybody…New ways to engage…

Beyond entertainment…

Education & training

NewsPolitics

Museums

Military

Schools

Healthcare

Corporate training

Satirical

?

Serious Games

Agenda

• Overview Serious Games • Game-based learning• What is good game-based learning• Real examples• Developing serious games• Strategy games

Why consider games…?

”Educational games are [can be] fundamentally different than the prevalent instructional paradigm. They are based on challenge, reward, learning through doing and guided discovery, in contrast to ”tell and test” methods of traditional instruction.”

- Report of the Federation of American Scientists, ”Educational Games 2006”

Why consider games…?

Perspectives: Train people to view problems from different perspectives.

Retention: Do not learn more but remember what they learn.

Get closer: Learning is not chopped into abstract bits and pieces.

Active use of knowledge: You have to apply your knowledge.

Consequences: The game re-acts to your choices and decisions.

What is game-based learning?

Games are the future language for training & Education…

Provide immersive, realistic & meaningful environments…

…..in which learners actually use information to develop knowledge, attitudes and skills.

Problem-centered learning……When solving problems = satisfaction

Games are problem spaces……Where your choices have consequences

GBL problems are authentic & relevant……integrating game & learning experience

What is game-based learning?

Agenda

• Overview Serious Games • Game-based learning• What is good game-based learning• Real examples• Developing serious games

Simcity 4

Civilization 4

Spore

Are these learning games?

Bully

Are these good learning games?

Are these good (learning) games?

All have elements of learning.

When learning focus increase, motivation tends to decrease.

• Substantives (ship/cannon)• Verbs (sail/shoot)

• Integration• Motivation• Focus

+ Motivation- - - Integration- - - Focus

+ + Motivation-Integration- Focus

+ Motivation+ Integration- Focus

Why computer games work..

•Audiovisual•Story

•Problem space•Choices/decisions•Consequence•Feedback•Balance•Reward

Subs

tanti

vsVe

rbs

Quality & abstraction• Right substantives• Right verbs

• Integration• Motivation• Focus

Learning gameComputer game

Agenda

• Overview Serious Games • Game-based learning• What is good game-based learning• Real examples• Developing serious games• Strategy games

Our work: Interactive World Map (2009)Platform: Single player, web-enabled, touch-screen

Technology: 3D Unity game engine

Playtime: N/ATimeline: 3 monthsBudget: 35.000 EUR

Application: Touch-screen interactive world map that can display existing content.

Target group: Visitors to Amnesty interactive education (teachers & students)

• Zoom function• Categorization through icons & themes)•Choose platform (text, movies, images, games)• Web version with ”mouse-functionality”• Administration module

Only available on location

Our work: Bring Your Ideas (2010)

Platform: Multiplayer, web-enabled,

Technology: Php, html & MySql

Playtime: N/ATimeline: 3 monthsBudget: 45.000 EUR

Application: Forum for discussing the solution for different business cases.

Target group: Students for management students.

• Game reward system w. ranking• Advanced forum w. integrated rating• Administration module

Only available on location

Our work: Nykredit Game (2008)

“Spillet gav god faglig indsigt i Nykredit og kerneværdier”

“God og sjov måde at lære noget om Nykredit”

- Intern brugertest Nykredit

Platform: Multiplayer, web-basedTimeline: 2 months (+4 months)Technology: Web 2.0 & flash/html

Playtime: 45-60 minutes

Budget: 60.000 EUR

Game: Aim to reach employees before job start when they are highly motivated. Presents company as innovative & interesting while delivering facts & information in a compelling context.

Target group: New (potential & existing employees)

www.detblaaforum.dk ( find forum post where you input password (tænknyt) to get started[video]

Our work: Global Conflicts: Sweat shops (2009)Platform: Mac/PC, single player, browser, CD-Rom

Technology: 3D Unity game engine

Playtime: 1 hourTimeline: 3 monthsBudget: 100.000 EUR

Game: The issues surrounding child labour in Bangladesh and other countries.

Target group: Older students + mature people

Advantages• Strong, visual, immersive universe• Feels & plays very close to a real game• Unique gameplay

Disadvantages• More expensive with 3D• Long development time• Harder to test & change gameplay

Our work: Bionicle Glatorian Arena (2009)Platform: Single player, web-based

Technology: 3D Unity game engine

Playtime 2 hoursTimeline: 6 months (+2 months)Budget: >125.000 EUR

Game: Play one of the new Bioncle Glatorians for fight and glory. Classic fight game that promotes the Lego characters.

Target group: 8-10 years boys

Advantages•Good game feel that appeals to tough target group.•Engaging & unique gameplay

Disadvantages• Plug-in needs to be installed• Requires more band-width

Try out game…

Our work: Playing History: The Plague (2009)Platform: Mac/PC, single player, browser-based, CD-Rom

Technology: 3D game engine Unity

Playtime: 3 hoursTimeline: 6 monthsBudget: 150.000 EUR

Game: In the game you play a boy in 14th century Florence during the Black Death. You must try to save your mother from the disease and get your family out of the city.

Target group: Students & kids (9-13 years old)

Advantages• Strong, visual, immersive universe• Feels & plays very close to a real game• Unique gameplay

Disadvantages• More expensive with 3D• Long development time• Harder to test & change gameplay

Release Winther 2009

Agenda

• Overview Serious Games • Game-based learning• What is good game-based learning• Real examples• Developing serious games• Strategy games

Design limitations..

TechnologyUnity 3D, Flash, web 2.0, html.

Platforms Pc, web, mobiles

Different complexity level Single user >> Multi user 2D graphics >> 3D graphics Small universe >> Large universe Linear >> Branching Low fidelity >> High fidelity Low interactivity >> High Interactivity 15 minutes >> 50 hours playtime

Our work process

Plan Implement Concept Prototype Production Testing

1 month 2 months 2 months1 month 1 month 0,5 month

• Important with fast feedback• Depend on iterations of concept & prototype• Below timeline influenced by budget & scope

Agenda

• Overview Serious Games • Game-based learning• What is good game-based learning• Real examples• Developing serious games• Strategy games

What is a strategy game

Relation model

DilemmasAgents Feedback loops

Player’s actions

“A strategy game is a game in which the players' decision-making skills have a high significance in determining the outcome.”

- WikiPedia

Workshop 2 purpose

The goal is to set the perimeters for the game by learning about your world, and defining the key variables in the game system:

SGI will make an initial extended concept.

Workshop will focus on• Types of agents• Important major feedback loops • Important player actions• Types of dilemmas & detail level• The basic game flow and key resources

Some examples

Many good strategy games lies in the past, and do not rely on good graphics to work.

Hidden AgendaRepublicDemocracyConflict: Middle EastWhite HouseBalance of PowerCrisis in KremlinA Force More Powerful

Some examples

Project challenges

Major challenges• Avoid too complex models• Keep it approachable for all players• Avoid trying to push all information• Build in difficulty level for all players

Contact infoCompany detailsSerious Games InteractiveGriffenfeldsgade 7A, 4. floorDK - 2200 Copenhagen Nwww.seriousgames.dk

My details: Simon Egenfeldt-Nielsensen@seriousgames.dk | +45 40 10 79 69www.egenfeldt.eu

© Serious Games Interactive